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Wednesday, November 20, 2013

"Christianity Is The Intruder" In December

"Most people think that December is strictly for Christians and view the solstice as an intrusion, when actually it's the other way around," says former evangelical minister Dan Barker.

Barker, who now heads up the nation's largest atheist organization, Freedom From Religion Foundation, also says, "People have been celebrating the winter solstice long before Christmas. We see Christianity as the intruder, trying to steal the national holiday from all us humans."

His statements wouldn't be worthy of mention except they are apparently being embraced by a complicit military, judicial system, public school system, and now, a hospital.

And that resistance to God is hurting individuals and diminishing the culture.

Unfortunately it isn't only the institutions that seek to rid us of God.

While this does nothing to diminish the power of the gospel and the Truth of God's Word, it certainly can mislead some who seek meaning in their life.

And it affirms those who are already in rebellion against God.

FFRF and other similar groups have found fertile ground in attacking those who express any kind of biblical or Christian sentiment in public school, government, most recently the military and now, a hospital.

Christians are now being forced to push back in defense of their religious freedoms.

Because of pressure from atheist groups, Bordertown Regional School District in New Jersey has now banned religious Christmas carols from upcoming holiday concerts normally held in the district's elementary schools.

However, in this case, rather than cave to the pressure as most schools do, this school district took the issue under legal advisement. After review, the district put out a statement that they will allow songs with "traditional and historical religious orgins."

But most districts don't bother. They cave to the pressure because they can always claim they don't have the funds to defend themselves in litigation. Or in some cases, I suspect, there are those in leadership who support the claims of those who see Christmas and Christians as the "intruder."

Boots Hawks, a retired US Army veteran, has worked for Dameron Hospital in Stockton, California for the past 10 years.

The hospital suspended him the day before Veterans Day.

Why?

Well, he used a tag line, as many do who work for the hospital, on his email messages.

His was not acceptable. He included the line, "God Bless America" under his company email signature.

He says he complied with his supervisor's request to stop using the phrase.

He told KCRA TV-3, "I believe in America and believe in God so strongly, and I believe that America needs the blessing."

Pacific Justice Institute, a California faith based defense group, has taken the case.

In a letter to the hospital, they said, "We are aware that other members of the hospital management circulate mass emails which include philosophical statements. We know of no legal authority that would justify your censorship."

KCRA 3 has asked the hospital if they have a policy that forbids such email signatures. As of today, the hospital has not replied.

There is indeed a concerted effort to remove God from the marketplace and culture of America. It's an effort to separate Americans from our founding principles and values, using the inverted meaning of Jefferson's assurance to the Danbury Baptists that the government could not interfere in the business of the church.

But it isn't only activist atheists who are trying to remove God from public discourse.

Yesterday, after declining an invitation to personally appear at the 150th anniversary of Lincoln's Gettysburg Address, President Obama video taped the reading of the 27-word speech.

However, as Barack Obama quoted Abraham Lincoln, he executed a revision.

Lincoln said, "This nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom."